Poynter rode sedately into camp and, descending to terra firma in the
light of the nearest camp fire, guilefully proceeded to assure himself
of a welcome and immediate attention by spectacular means; he simply
unwound the hullabaloo.
Cymbals clashed, the drum cannonaded fearfully and to the sprightly
measures of "The Glowworm," the Indians who had collected about Keela's
wagon to stare at Diane, decamped in a body to the side of Mr. Poynter,
who smiled and proceeded in pantomime to make friends with all about
him.
This, by virtue of the entertaining music-machine, was not difficult.
Having exhausted the repertoire of the hullabaloo, he initiated the
turbaned warriors into the mystery of unwinding tunes, thereby
cementing the friendship forever.
The general din and excitement grew fearful. Presently the Thunder-Man
was warmly assigned a wigwam, made of palmetto and the skins of wild
animals above a split-log floor, to which he retired at the heels of
Sho-caw, a copper-colored young warrior who had learned a little
English from the traders.
Already rumor was rife among the staring tribe that Diane had strayed
from the legendary clan of beautiful Indians in the O-kee-fee-ne-kee
wilderness. The assignment of her wigwam, therefore, had been made
with marked respect.
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